MN 2022 Gov Race Megathread

[Real Texan Politics]

A politician vs a pillow salesman/Trump ally.

This'll be interesting. If Lindell does good with the suburbs and Iron Range workers he could pull this off, not saying he's guaranteed since right now I'd rate it as lean D until it starts getting closer.

[Real Texan Politics]

Attorney: Mike Lindell Among Those Who Paid To Bail Out Kyle Rittenhouse, Charged In Kenosha Protest Shootings

That's an attack ad in itself.

[Real Texan Politics]

Actually now that I think about it, Mike Lindell could very likely win assuming 2022 is a red wave year.

Remember this is the same state that elected a professional wrestler as their governor from 1999-2003 (Jesse Ventura) and a Saturday Night Live comedian as one of their senators from 2009-2018 (Al Franken), so Mike Lindell as governor wouldn't really be anything new for Minnesota. They seem to like oddball candidates.

Though on the other hand, Ventura was an independent while Franken was a democrat, so that could spell trouble for Lindell? Especially if he faces tons of attacks for his connection to Trump (who already endorsed Lindell's potential bid for governor).

[Real Texan Politics]

Actually now that I think about it, Mike Lindell could very likely win assuming 2022 is a red wave year.

Remember this is the same state that elected a professional wrestler as their governor from 1999-2003 (Jesse Ventura) and a Saturday Night Live comedian as one of their senators from 2009-2018 (Al Franken), so Mike Lindell as governor wouldn't really be anything new for Minnesota. They seem to like oddball candidates.

Though on the other hand, Ventura was an independent while Franken was a democrat, so that could spell trouble for Lindell? Especially if he faces tons of attacks for his connection to Trump (who already endorsed Lindell's potential bid for governor).

Remember this is also the state where a Republican hasn’t won statewide in 14 years.

That is a good point, though that doesn't mean they'll never elect one again. They're still a mild battleground after all, state and federal.

History seems to show that oddball candidates are easy to win elections in Minnesota, but what if that oddball is a republican with connections to Donald Trump in a state that voted for his opponent by 1.5% in 2016 and 7.1% in 2020?

It's hard to tell right now. Right now I'd rate it as lean/likely D if the GOP nominee isn't Lindell, and tossup to tilt/lean D if it is. And even if Lindell pulls off a shocking victory, it would still be a nailbiter of a margin.

I guess to average it all out right now, I would still rate the 2022 governor race as lean D, but that can easily change as we get closer to the election (and depending on how popular or unpopular Joe Biden is as president).

[Real Texan Politics]

He would likely have the best chance out of any Republican to pick this up in 2022 but it would remain a Lean D race even then. Still, It wouldn't completely blow my mind to see Lindell win.

My thoughts exactly.

[Real Texan Politics]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/15/mike-lindell-mypillow-trump-white-house-martial-law

Aaaannnnnddddd he’s done.

My prediction now moves from lean D to likely D, and that’s assuming he survives the primaries.

[Real Texan Politics]

Looking forward to Lindell raking in the donations McGrath style to lose by 5.

After the whole martial law stuff it may be more like Walz +8 unless there’s any serious rioting if the cops that killed George Floyd are freed.

[Real Texan Politics]

He said "I will never say what I never will not do," whatever the hell that means.

https://twitter.com/maryfrancesmcg/status/1352623821178679296

Makes no sense but I guess it means "I will never say what I don't promise."

Or something like that.

[Real Texan Politics]

Stauber vs Lindell. Who wins the primaries?

Based on name recognition alone, I'd be very surprised if it isn't Lindell. I have high doubts he wins the general, but the primaries will be an easy win for him (plus the Trump endorsement likely helps him a lot).

[Real Texan Politics]

This may be it for Lindell's potential campaign, as twitter has suspended his account.

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/01/25/mypillow-ceo-mike-lindell-suspended-from-twitter/

The MyPillow account is still up, which I don't think he runs. We'll see how long that lasts even though I doubt any crazy Qanon stuff would come out of that.

[Real Texan Politics]

This is likely D but closer to safe now than lean. I don't know what I was thinking when I rated this tossup/tilt D, although that may have been before the capitol riots and the whole martial law thing.

Honestly who knows if he'll even run for governor anymore? I could see him running for senate in 2024 against Klobuchar (if she still runs for re-election after her post George Floyd downfall) or 2026 against Smith if he's still relevant by then.

[Real Texan Politics]

Even Red Eagle Politics (conservative right winger pro Trump youtuber) says Mike Lindell and Lin Wood belong in an asylum.

Technically that was me who brought up Mike Lindell belonging in an asylum in REP's stream last night and he agreed with me

[Real Texan Politics]

hasn't Lindell already said he isn't running?

Yes, he has confirmed he is not running.